The Waipukurau Press. Friday, July 13, 1906 Local and General.

Waipukurau Press, Volume I, 13 July 1906, Page 2

The Waipukurau Press. Friday, July 13, 1906 Local and General.

,O: Owing to the Wild West show starting to-morrow at i p.m., Mackay & Co.’s sale of trees and produce will commence at eleven a.m. sharp. Details appear in advertisement. Mr Faulkner, dentist, will visit Waipukurau on Monday next —at Tavistock Hotel. Miss N. Jackson, dressmaker, from Auckland, has a card in another column.

Reward offered for recovery of lost purse. Among the items at the social was an unrehearsed “ cakewalk ” — a tin of cakes disappearing mysteriously. In Mr Bailey’s paddock, Waipukurau, on Wednesday afternoon Professor Bates, from Texas, U.S., gave a very interesting exhibition of lassoing and wild cattle taming. Considering the short notice given, there was a good attendance of the public, including a fair sprinkling of ladies, who, by the way, seemed to greatly enjoy the show. Among the audience were not a few sceptics, who, however, soon became firm believers in “ Bronco Bill’s ” abilities. Dressed in the orthodox cowboy fashion, Bates bestrode a local white nag, which seemed quite fitted for the work in hand except as to speed. The first animal to be captured was a colt, which, however, had been handled once before, but was reckoned a difficult one to deal with ; the professor promptly lassoed it in the field and threw it down, the rider retaining his seat during the operation. The horse’s legs were smartly tied, and bridle and saddle adjusted; then Bates mounted and rode away, the horse bucking somewhat. Two wild steers and an unhandled colt were similarly dealt with. Through one of his spurs turning, the rider could n> t kaep on the red steer, though it was ridden a short distance. The tamer was loudly applauded at intervals. Though not the most ferocious stock could be got to deal wit'i, the exhibition was instructive as well as amusing. Professor Bates believes in operating with the least possible cruelty. One of the attractions to-morrow will be the riding of a cross-grained horse, belonging to Takapau, for a wager of £lO. This animal is said to be a “ snorter,” having displaced all alleged rough riders. Social at Hatuma this evening.

Speaking at the Road Board meeting on Tuesday, Mr Wall, a member, said road boards were all a mistake. He instanced the frequent clashing of local bodies, and thought there should be nothing but small counties to administer the requirements of the country districts. The fame of Waipukurau as a terrestrial paradise is so great that even the Celestial cannot resist it. Two Chinamen came, saw, and conquered, and intend to start business next week in the new premises foreninst the post office. An effort was made by a European syndicate to lease the premises, but the proposal collapsed just on the brink of victory; and Ah John and Jim Kum have sailed their junk in and dropped anchor for four years at least, it seems. Their’s will make the eighth business in the town to retail provisions, and no doubt a few of the Waipawa shops will continue to regard Waipukurau as a valuable milch cow—continue to fish and get big nibbles .as of yore.' [This is hardly correctly put, but is impressive.] Some years : lago a big, honest, good-tempered Chinee ran a grocery here, but ’tis said he was patronised so extensively by customers who had left their purses at home, and who couldn’t read Chinese when the ac/s were poked in front of them, that he finally packed up his handkerchief and fled, declaring the “ model village” had been misnamed, as he understood the words. But that was before local prosperity set in and wool was high and the estates got “ busted” up. Marmalade oranges on sale at H. Poynter’s.—Advt

Mr D. Moroney’s tender . for forming continuation of Racecourse road at 2s 3d per chain and portion at 2s 6d per chain has been accepted by the Waipukurau Road Bd. W. McKenzie, Carterton, writes to Wellington Times:—l wish to congratulate you on the journalistic thrashing which you administered to the Post for its blackguard attempts to blacken the name of Seddon- With others we in the country are wondering how long Wellington is going to stand by and allow this gutter journal to kick the dead body of the man whom it could never beat when he was alive. Is there not a cartoonist who will depict the picture of the Post’s ghoulishness and show the people that the journal itself is a disgrace, not alone to Wellington itseif, but to New Zealand. The proposed senior football match at Waipukurau did not come off on Wednesday. There is no truth in the rumour that Waipawa funked on hearing of Waipuk’s formidable team.

In the course of a private letter to Mr R. C. Dunlop, of Waipukurau, a friend in Lincoln, England, writes : —Farm wages average 20s per week. As regards stock, pigs and sheep have been a good trade ; bullocks very slow and bad prices. Men breeding sheep and bulls for export have had a good time at our April fair. I saw a bull sold at 305 guineas; I think it went to the Argentine. Wheat makes 4s bushel, oats up to 3s, and barley 3s 6d. Potatoes this year have been a drug: Northern Stars sold two years ago at £2OO per ton have been sold at 20s ton, and could only be quitted for cattle and pigs ; the boom died away as quickly as it arose. We have had a cold spring, but crops generally look well.

We learn that the state of the Hon W.C. Smith’s health prevented his attending last night’s meeting of ratepayers. Rev H. O, Hampton, who has been officiating in this parish for some weeks, leaves for Taihape on Monday. The rev. gentleman has made many friends here. Rev F. W. Martin is expected to return from Auckland next week. After the Wild West show on Wednesday, Mr “Dick” Plummer gave an exhibition of fancy horsemanship. Without saddle or bridle he performed some clever feats on a black pony, at the gallop, much to the delight of the spectators. Says the Ohakune correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle:—On a recent trip which live drays made in company from Pipiriki to Ohakune, one dray got stuck four times and capsized once, another was stuck once, two of the others had their shatters down in the mud, and two of the drivers were thrown out of their drays. All the drivers and horses had been over the road frequently. The cost of carting from Pipiriki to Ohakune has risen from £2 10s to £9 10s per ton, and it is difficult to engage teams at that price. The Inangahua Times says : — “ The Seddon Cemetery Trustees are humorists in their way- The new ground was recently laid out by a prominent settler, an ex-mem-ber of the Government survey staff, who, of course, performed the work gratuitously. The trustees, however, forwarded him a vote of thanks and the title to a free plot! ” Schools resume next Tuesday. At Ormondville Court yesterday, H. P. Newling was charged by the stock inspector (Mr Harvey) with feeding uncooked offal to pigs. A fine of £2 and costs was imposed. A fierce wind hlew last night. Mrs Booth’s many friends will be pleased to learn that she is making good progress towards recovery at the hospital, after a serious illness. The Premier is about to pay a visit to Timaru, where he will deliver a political address dealing chiefly with his position since Mr Seddon’s death.

In the possession of a printers’ errand boy, named Charles Dyer, who was run over and killed in Theobald’s road, Holborn, was an insurance coupon for £lOOO in case of death from accident. It was rendered invalid owing to the fact that the holder had omitted to sign it. Mr Fox’s daughter, who has been seriously ill, is recovering. At the end of May the Department of Roads was employing 209 men in Hawke’s Bay. i- The Wellington Steeplechase of 300 sovs was won by Mr J. Franks’ who paid a dividend of £l2 Bs. \ ' ' Reward offered for information re destruction of lock and chain. Westland election to-day. Mr Tom Seddou concluded his campaign last night, having a splendid meeting. He was accorded a vote of thanksand confidence on a strong show of Rands. Mr Michel has had good meetings. Joe Ping, a Chinaman, wrs to-day fined £lOO, subsequently reduced to £25, for having in his possession 2oz of opium. The Ventura, with the inward San Francisco mail, arrived at Auckland yesterday.